Luke 2
"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
"Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them."
TAKEN FROM WALT WANGERIN'S BOOK, "PREPARING FOR JESUS":
It’s Christmas Day. The quietness is shattered. God will never, never be silent again! And how the world must know the news! So here comes Gabriel again. Get ready for more singing.
But this time the angel grows bright before a bunch of nameless folk. First it was Zechariah, next Mary, next Joseph, all of whom had roles to play in the coming of the Christ—but now… shepherds! How many? Don’t know. And these aren’t even the owners of the sheep; they’re the working stiffs who pulled a night watch. So what are these people in the order of things? How do they rate such invitations to the great banquet of the King?
Well, they rate because they rate! They are chosen because God chooses them. It has nothing to do with what they have done. And it clearly can’t be who they are—unless “who they are” is nothing at all, for this same Jesus whom they will rush to worship shall fill his own feast hall with the poor and maimed and lame and blind, with those who travel the highways and lurk in hedges (Luke 14). The Lord God and the Lord in human flesh—they have the same notions, you see.
So here comes Gabriel again, and what he says is, “Good tidings of great joy… for ALL people!” Well, of course. That’s why the shepherds are first: they represent all the nameless, all the working stiffs, the great wheeling population of the whole world.
That’s how we got to the birthing last night, you and I. Zechariah and Mary and Elizabeth and Joseph and John: each is a particular person with a very particular relationship to Jesus. They may act as models for us. We can try to imitate them. But we cannot be them.
But the shepherds, now—these people without names or position or repute or privilege—we need not merely be like them. We can be them. They are us in the story. Name one with your own name. Give her your history and your face. Enter his place in midnight on the chilly fields near Bethlehem.
“Glory to God in the highest! And peace to the people with whom he is pleased!”
And who are these people? With whom does the good Lord choose to take his pleasure?
The shepherds.
The plain and nameless—whose every name the Lord knows well.
You and me.
Merry Christmas, His beloved! Merry Christmas, His child!
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